United Party for National Development (UPND) president Hakainde Hichilema says his party will reverse the decision by President Michael Sata to remove subsidies on fuel, maize and fertilizer when elected in 2016.
President Michael Sata, who campaigned on a pro-poor promise, has abruptly removed subsidies on fuel, maize and fertilizer triggering poverty levels in the country.
But Hichilema said in Kafulafuta during the by-election campaign that the UPND will reserve the decision on subsidies.
He said such a move will help secure the country’s resources and cushion the suffering of the more than 60 percent Zambians living under the poverty datum line.
Hichilema also accused Sata of wanting to create a one party state by poaching members of the opposition and giving them inferior government jobs as well as using oppressive tactics on those that don’t agree with him.
He said the idea to create unnecessary by elections was not well meant as they were aimed at killing the democracy Zambia has enjoyed over the last 20 years.
Hichilema thanked the MMD for supporting the UPND after its candidate Everlyn Mwanawasa withdrew due to illness.
Meanwhile, UPND vice president Richard Kapita has accused the Patriotic Front of using police to fan violence in by-elections where they feel they are losing.
He said police picked one of its officials campaigning in Solwezi East and assaulted him alongside PF cadres.
Kapita says his party was forced to pay K1.6 million (old currency) to secure the freedom of its official.
But PF campaign manager in Solwezi East Gabriel Namulambe, one of the sell-outs that recently defected from the MMD to PF, said his party was conducting issued based campaigns describing the campaigns as baseless.
The post Hichilema Promises to Reverse Removal of Subsidies appeared first on Zambia Reports.